MJ's mental fortitude was incredible that season. He willed a team to a championship, that probably shouldn't have won given the circumstances (injuries, etc.).

That being said, I think this comparison is unfair to MJ himself. While that season may not be appreciated as much as it should, Jordan's level of play was down from the previous two seasons, and he definitely wasn't close to what he was from say 88-93 (particularly defensively). So while it was a great run, I think we're doing him a disservice given his lofty standards.

No one else on his team was hitting sh*t lol, Pippen could barely even walk straight after game 4 or 5.

With the game in the balance he basically tipped the scales on his own, making a great defensive play on Malone to seal it to boot.

Scottie Pippen never shot over 42% in the playoffs in the second threepeat, a lot of the pressure to score and make big shots was disproportionately put on Jordan in the playoffs.

Stop lying. In that game 6, Kukoc was 7/14, Pippen was 5/7 and hit a couple huge buckets down the stretch, Harper was 3/4, Rodman was 3/3. Why must you and people like continue to act as if Jordan had no help during his runs? Its a shame

And Pippen cant get a break when it comes to people like you. The man was chastised for missing that game in 1990 vs the Pistons, and chastised for playing hurt during the second threepeat.

Not to mention Pippen took a lot of threes during the second threepeat. Thats why his FG% was so low. He did lead the playoffs in defensive rating in 96, and was I believe third in 98.

Stop lying. In that game 6, Kukoc was 7/14, Pippen was 5/7 and hit a couple huge buckets down the stretch, Harper was 3/4, Rodman was 3/3. Why must you and people like continue to act as if Jordan had no help during his runs? Its a shame

And Pippen cant get a break when it comes to people like you. The man was. Chastised for missing that game in 1990 vs the Pistons, and chastised for playing hurt during the second threepeat.

Not to mention Pippen took a lot of threes during the second threepeat. Thats why his FG% was so low. He did lead the playoffs in defensive rating in 96, and was I believe third in 98.

The Bulls were in big, big trouble in that game six, if they do not get bailed out by Jordan like that, they probably could have lost game 7, as Pippen did not look like he was in good shape and Kukoc was never all that reliable.

The rest of the team couldn't score for sh*t unless it was Kerr and some open 3s.

Down the stretch of that game 6, the Bulls went completely cold. To me it's the most impressive of Jordan's playoff performances, even if it statistically doesn't read as so, because I think he had to dig the deepest to pull that one out. At some point it's pretty much just sheer will.

It's like a boxing match, at some point, technique goes out of the window, and it's just two guys beating the crap out of each other, and who wants it more, who refuses to go down. That Jazz series had become a full on war by the end.

He had help of course, but the way the Bulls were built also often required Jordan to shoulder a disportionate amount of the load, it's not like the Bulls ever had like Chris Bosh who could drop 20 on any given night, they just opted to waste his offensive ability and reduce him to a spot up shooter.

The Bulls basically had to max out the ability of their roster and Jordan sometimes had to carry a unbelievably taxing amount of the offensive load and big shot making.

Stop lying. In that game 6, Kukoc was 7/14, Pippen was 5/7 and hit a couple huge buckets down the stretch

Pippen was 4-7 from the field for 8 points in the game, not 5-7. And lol @ "a couple of huge buckets down the stretch." You might want to actually watch the game: he had only one basket the entire 4th quarter, at the 8:00 mark. One basket, not a couple. And 8:00 left is hardly down the stretch of a game.

The Bulls were in big, big trouble in that game six, if they do not get bailed out by Jordan like that, they probably could have lost game 7, as Pippen did not look like he was in good shape and Kukoc was never all that reliable.*

Lol....... Bailed out? He shot the worse out if the whole team. The ending was incredible. Greatest ending ever. In all sports. You couldnt have written a better ending. But the team kept them in it.

Quote:

He had help of course, but the way the Bulls were built also often required Jordan to shoulder a disportionate amount of the load, it's not like the Bulls ever had like Chris Bosh who could drop 20 on any given night, they just opted to waste his offensive ability and reduce him to a spot up shooter.*The Bulls basically had to max out the ability of their roster and Jordan sometimes had to carry a unbelievably taxing amount of the offensive load and big shot making.]

Oh my god just stop. The bottom line is Wins. And the Bulls were a 55 team capable of making the finals without Jordan.

Toni Kukoc as the leader of that 99 Bulls squad netted basically the same amount of wins as Chris Bosh did in his time with Raptors. And that on a team that was intentionally trying to tank. Dennis Rodman dominated a 64 win Sonics team in the finals. And is credited with two wins alone by George Karl. And Luc Longley played extremely well in the 96 Finals.

Im about results. The Bulls players were extremely successful outside of Jordan.

Pippen was 4-7 from the field for 8 points in the game, not 5-7. And lol @ "a couple of huge buckets down the stretch." You might want to actually watch the game: he had only one basket the entire 4th quarter, at the 8:00 mark. One basket, not a couple. And 8:00 left is hardly down the stretch of a game.

Lol....... Bailed out? He shot the worse out if the whole team. The ending was incredible. Greatest ending ever. In all sports. You couldnt have written a better ending. But the team kept them in it.

Oh my god just stop. The bottom line is Wins. And the Bulls were a 55 team capable of making the finals without Jordan.

Toni Kukoc as the leader of that 99 Bulls squad netted basically the same amount of wins as Chris Bosh did in his time with Raptors. And that on a team that was intentionally trying to tank. Dennis Rodman dominated a 64 win Sonics team in the finals. And is credited with two wins alone by George Karl. And Luc Longley played extremely well in the 96 Finals.

Im about results. The Bulls players were extremely successful outside of Jordan.

They won ONE playoff round without Jordan, period. If you're really about the bottom line, there it is.

Pippen won nothing with Olajuwon and Barkley (eliminated in round 1) and was the team leader of the Blazers in 2000 that had one of the most epic playoff collapses in NBA history.

Rodman had a good 96 Finals, but Kemp also posterized him more than a few times and started to bust loose by about game 3 or 4. I loved Rodman, but he was far from the ideal PF, incredible rebounder and defender, but a liability on offense without question and had a habit of zoning out for stretches.

Chris Bosh is a far better player than Toni Kukoc ever was.

The Bulls were gassed as a team by game six, Bob Costas was practically giddy with anticipation about writing their obituary.